Mechanism for opening and closing gates, doors, and the like



Mqy l0, 1927. .1,628,443

A. D. THOMAS MECHANISM Fon OPENING AND CLOSING GATES, DooRs, AND THE LIKE Filed April 3. 1924 3 sheets-sheet 2 @wiz/rik WMM@ May v10 '1927, 1,628,443

A. D. THOMAS MEOHANISM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING GATES, DOORS, AND THE LIKE Filed April s. 1924 vs sheetsl-sheet 3- @I Patented May 1t), i927.

NETE@ EJATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR DOUGLAS THOMAS, OF BLACK ROCK,l VICTORIA, .AUSTBALA.

MECHANISM FOR OPENINGAND CLOSING GATES, '.DOCGRS,l ND THE LIKE.

Application led April 37-1924, Serial No. 703,849, and in Australia April 19, 1923.

This invention relates to improvements inV mechanism t'or opening and closing gates and doors and the like and refers especially to mechanism applicable to tield and other gates and doors ot garages or-other buildings whereby the same may beopened and closed by the passage of a vehicle to and 'trom the same. The invention isfalso ap` plicable to the operation otv semaphore signals and the like.

rThe object ot the present invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanism for attachment to a gate or door which is adapted. to be actuated automatically to open and close the said gate or door by the movement of two or more hinged levers which are preferably operated by ther engagement of the said levers withithe wheels ot a vehicle passing thereover.

I accomplish the above mentioned object by providing on one or both sides of the gate an apparatus which consists ot' hinged levers (such as depressible ground levers) having cranked arms or extensions to which flexible connections are attached leading around or to a radial member (such as a drum or grooved wheel) revolvably mounted on the hinging stile oi the gate (or vertical member adjacent thereto) .and then to a spring controlled latch whereby the operation ot one groundrlever (such as by the weight ot a vehicle passing thereover) will cause the latching lever or bolt to be untastened and the gate to be swung open and the operation ot' the other ground lever willlca-usethe said gate to be closed and 'fastened after the vehicle has passed through the opening. The flexible connections can be passed around the said radial member on the hinging stile ot the gate and then through av locating member (such as a staple) to the latch or fastening, or alterna tively the saidtlexible connections can be attached to the said radial member after passing around the same tor a haltl turn or more and a Aseparate connection provided between the said radial'meml'ier andthe latch or fastening Jfor operating the same. These operating levers may be arranged upon opposite sides ot' the gate or door or both upon one side thereof..

The initial movement ot the operating levers, flexible connections and radial meinber irst aetuates the latching lever or bolt in opposition totheaction ot a spring and secondly in opposition to the compression or tension of a second spring to `Ifacilitate the opening and closing actionot the gate.

The device will operate to cause the gate to open and positively close. and lock the same irrespective ot the direction in which the vehicle is approaching orinoving away from the same while at the same time the gate is capable ot beingA operated by hand independently ot the said mechanism.

For convenience of description in this specilication certain terms and expressions are employed, but it is to be understood that they are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, tor example, the term gate will in- F clude doors, semaphores and any other hinged, pivoted or swinging member capable ot' being manipulated by flexible connections by the application of the invention, and the term ground lever will include any other hinged levers capable ot operating the flexible connections for the purpose of the invent-ion, and the term radial member" or drum or grooved pulley will include a segment, bracket, hinged radial arms.` hinged or pivoted to the hinging stile ot the gate (or on a vertical member adjacent thereto) arranged in such manner that the lieyible connections are enabled topertorm their requisite functions tor the purposes ot' rue invention.

Referring now to the. accompanying sheets ot drawings Figure l illustrates the apnlicationot this invention .to an ordinary held gate which is shown `as opening when the letthand` ground lever is depressed by the wheel ot a vehicle passing thereover.

Figures 2 and 3 are detail vievvs showing the construction and operation ot the gate illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 4. is `an enlarged plan view ot a latch specially adapted tor use with this invention. n

Figure an enlargedview oi" the two ground leve and hinging stile shown in corresponding relationship to each,` other.

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liiguro (S is i section througijh iho hox or mining housing. ono olf lho h 'i'ora .izioii'inig ihtl :suino iii oloriitioii.

Figuros; tu' intl 5l ilhiolriili :i .iiiotlil'iiul :torni oi this invention oliowiiig` :i ii'iiio jun-i1 oponiiig upon iiio iloprosuion of u I i'ioiuici loror hy :i Wheel olf :i rohirio pursuing tliorooror,

Figui-o l() in :i iloiiiil riow oi' tho ti'iounil loi'oi'ii showingl thix (losing opoi'nlioii oi iho grillo illust 'iiloii in Figui-o u, (lun io ino uliirrl, oi Elio roliii-lo flopriiwiinii' :i 'iurihiir i;jroiinil loioi.

liiiiino I i is :i doliiil riow Showing tho ilusion' operation olE tho nuto u'hon tho \'ohirlh i.--: inorinivi` gironi tho loll'.

iiigiuos und lil :iro i'ioi'iipor'iro rioun olf two groundL loroirs working in ronjuni: i'ion und ilioir ronnootions to iho goto, ono of i'iho Suid lovoi's heilig' opoi'zii'ivo with u rohiolo passing: in ono iliroction, und tho othoi.' ground ioror oporiiiiri` u'illi :i rohirio piisiini/ iin tho oppooiro iiiroirtion un shown hy the arrows.

Figure li u View showing tho oppliirution of tho invention to oxii'eiiing guten.

Figui-o lo is ii 'View liouiiiii iinothoi ilo- Qiggjn of hitch.

Fig-uros lo unil 'lli :iro riown showingi` ii opooiiil iipiilicutiou oii,t i'ho hitch illuso-:noti in fh`igiiio l, unil in i?igijuro in.

'llhroiiighoui' *rhin Ipooiii-:iiion :ini'i tho 'rio rions figures ol' iho driiwiirggie rho iQuino roi? oi'onoo lol'iow intlii-:ii'o ooi'i'ospnnrling; piiriai.

A. :i gute which in of :in i' known construction huviiig roitii'iil, unil iioriminiui inoiiihoi'y in i'ho usuiil iiniiinoi'; iii@` roi'ticzil niviiihir IL ronipririiing iho hinui iiiiunlior :intl the voriiozil niouihor i' wing' rho hii'cli inoiuhor oonnoot'oi'i togethw h r i iop horizontal nieiuhor AJ" :nid ii hol'ioni horizontal nioinhi-ir JU. This ont@ ,1li in iiioun'lieil upon u hinge post li :inrl suppoifi-ri in suiiiiho hiiiggon` B on tho liinno Stilo lli u'hirh unify' hie piroiiotl in rho uiiuiil lizuoirn iniiiinor. Tho hitch orilo A' onouo'os ii liiirli post C with :i suitable lain-h l) u'hirh inni' ho oi? o1'- flinzirjr connti'iioi'ion :zipiiliio oif honig' riloufied hy longitudinal toofiou :igi'iiinst :t pring. Si special winstifiuri'iou otf .liiioh is horoinziilor described hut it will he understood that tho op@ 'iii'ion of tho niiiin puri of the inrontion is noi doponrloni i'hrroon nor ooniiuotl ithoi'olo.

For i'ho purpose oli :it'tuiii'inii tho nur@ il to both opon und oioso Iii' tho opoi'iii'ion olf suil'iihio `L'i'ound lin-ors, .auch :is lo; tho pus- Szigo of the Whoo! ol? ii rohioio {hoi-cover, I provide iis Shown in liig'nro l '.i piiir of trouiirl lavoro E und if inonutii'l in conreniont positions: ono upon oithor vicio oi rho gufo A. for tho passage of tho rohioio. The rolisiruoi'ion of ifhoso ground loror l unil, F is shown more particularly in Eigui'o 5 Loom/i3 :incl the operation olf the/So lovers E und F iforroiiponil iii ilohiil. '.l`lio lovers lil :intl F :iro iuifh lfoifiiioti :in :in upwzii'tlly priijootiiigil crunk or loop upon :uiiiitllon oi: :ihzilni lil unil li" nioiintoil in louizihio hearings lilJ :intl ii' Upon tho olhor onils o? tho spinilloi; or shiils ll :intl l!" iro provided :i piiiif of c onlin il, itl'L :ind li, li"i respectively, iii:- un tinglo to @zich other, the oriinlisl und h honig .suiizihli' unigliotl `whilo tho other orainlns ,lill unil l1 liiiro :i linuolilo joint' ilforiiioti hy links: lil inni il boing pirolioil on lhi, oiitlo thorooi" with ii turned ond which ongg'zigiii: tho hotly oi? i'ho Suid orzinloi lili, l "l :intl :loin4 :is :i stop lhoro'lfoif.

ln tho thiiuiugi's illuoti'iitiiig thini iiiot|i|ituition oli' tho invention, l havo Shown two oi'uniis lil, if? und if, if, on tho spindles or isliiiifts lil und F ifoopoctivoly, tho oruiiliiI lil unil lf boing' onlil for rho purpose of providing; 50unter-woightv :iihipteti to hlinlo tho ground loi'oi's-x E :ind l" hiicl: inio opofiitii'o positions :lifter tho vohiolo hais piisnoil thorn` over. llowovor, it will ho oloui i'lizit tho iiunks lil* und li iriih thoi' :Lttzioheil iinlis inl unil if unifi' poifforni ihoir Alfiinoion or roiurniuo' ilu ioriiri; iii :nui f lo ihoii` iiorniiil opo 'attivo punition in which wiso tho weightoil ci'iinhs ii unil l5 .muy ho dispensed with.

)i iloxihlo connection Ci (such iis ii, wire, nhziin, or wird) iis iittuohod to the link lil o the iii-ouml lover l] und, :i siniiliii lioxihlo (fonnooi'ion l'l is :itl'uohoil to ihr, linl if of tho ;iioiincl lover ii. rlfhwo iloiiihlo f :oniioolions ii unifi l-i. pains oi'or luitiihlo guido piiiloys il unil il ifospcofiwlr, :nul thon around opponiio .-1i iiifiii gi'i'ooriiii roihir or ilrnni .l which is loof1ol)v niountofl, on the hingging f-lile Si oli' tho goto fi or upon :i Hopoiiiio iortit-:il nioiuhor ,lif (.higiuro il). lliofo iioiiihio ronnootionf (i und .Ii iniiy ho aii`- lziifhoil to lho drinn or rolloi' ,if of :in onion- .ion ihoi'oon upon tho opposiio :iiiilf io iiio hingo post i or to :i looperfl iiieinhor or Sizipio vl or tho salici lloxihlo oonnoifriour:` (l und. H nur r poss 'ifrooli through rho Hohl loop or ol'iiplo ii.

BL coiled Spring ig its priiividori coiu'uoiiiiig ih@ drum or roller .i (or thi, ii'loifossaiiil ox tension thoi'oon) with tho iifruniou'ori; oE tho fijate, tho tonuiou serving to hoop lho .iuplo -i (or rho point oi ronnoriiiui oif i'lii ihffiiiih niouihers G sind H lo tho suii'l ih'uni or i-olloi' J) in uligiinioni; with. ino giulio. liihon the Suid. springi J2 is Connori'oil to iin oxiinsion ou rho drum or roller J', :in incroiisoil invor- :igio on tho Spring; will lio inipurioil rrhou pullod h r rho i'ioxihlo conuooi'iono unil li io swing i'ho gufo with groui'or ioroo.

"l'ho iloiliihl ooiinootioio; (l :nul il :rlior piiszfiiio' through tho loop or s'iipli .i on iho rolhr or drinn l nro inner-toil direct lo rho hitch ioror oi the gino oI u siepiiriito oonnootion n'iiiiv he inode 'iron'i tho Sziiii drinn or i'ollor J to rho latch lower whore the ternir sanielocked nals ot the flexible connections G and H are attached to` the drum or roller J, or to an extension thereon. llt. will be obvious that the Vfunction olfY th drum or roller .l is to act as a guide for the lieXible connections G and H and to permit` ot the tension otl the said connections G and H to be imparted to the gate out ot longitudinal alignment, consequently a segment or a. bracket, or radial arms revolvably `mounted or hinged or pivoted on the hinging stile A" would equally answer the pur-v gitudinal axis ot the gate. But in Figures I -land lo. l have shovvna latch specially adapted vfor use `with this invention. This latch coinprises a notched roller D loosely mounted on thelatch member A2 ot the gate, the notches D being adapted to engage simultaneousljv astop C on the post C and a trigger K attached to a pivotcd handle or lever K on the gate A. A spring` K2 serves to keep the trigger inengagen'ient with the notch ot the roller D and hold the in place. Though this catch l? shown in Figures l and 2 mounted at the bottom ot the stile A? it will be obvious that it may befniounted higher up thel stile )if and the connections trom the roller cl vdetiected thereto by suitablef guide pullevs on the rate It as shown in Figurey l5.

The operation ot the gate is clearlyY shoivn in Figures l, 2, C5, l and 5 ot the drawings. ln the latter tigurevthe dilterent positions assumed by the ground leversbeiug shovrnr` the full lines representingl the normal position.vv the chain dotted linesv the position when the lett hand lever is depressed. and the plain dottedlines tlieclosing operation b v the depression ot the right hand lever after vihich the levers are returned tornermal position by the balance Weights on the ends otl the cranks Ef* and F3.

`When the left't Vhand lever E is depressed by the wheel ot avehi'cle as shown in- F ig` ures l and 5, the tension on the flexible connection Gr partially rotates vthe drum or roller .l which' perates to release't-he cat-ch `l) bv pulling the trigger llout ot engagement `with the notch in the roller l) against the tension ot' the springl K2. The'tension -ot' the'tlexible connection (l inpartiallv rotating the drinn or roller .l brings the loop or staple J out otl alignment ivith the gate (as shovvn in Figure 3) and thus in'iparts swinging movement to the said gate (assisted b v the tension ot' the spring fig) when the latch is completelyv disengaged (as shoivu in Figure l). lt `will be noticed that.l ,as the roller D is leaving the stop .Cen the latch post (l it undergoes a, partial rotatioiu thus the spring J2 ivill swing placing another notch D in position to engage With the stop on the stop post L.

lln order to prevent the roller l) trom spinning as it leaves a stop, a pair ot diametrically opposite webs or tins D2 are termed on the underside of the roller l) and the said 'webs are adapted to engage with corresponding grooves or recesses D3 when the roller l) has moved sutticientlv tar to be disengaged trom the stop C shown in Figures 16 and l?. V A lug J3 is attached to or is termed on the underside ot' the drum or rollerl and corresponding stops J* are attached to the hinging stile A ot the gate as shown in Figures 2 and 23 the same being adapted to limit the moven'ient et' the said roller;

llihen the gate isvswung to an angle of about 900 a not-ch in the catch D engages a sion brings the said lever F into an approximately upright position (as shown on Vthe right hand in Figure so that it is in an engagino' position tor the Wheel ot the vehicle. is the vehicle passes onward fits lWheel engages this seconc ground lever F and depresses the same to the position shown in dotted lines (Figures 5) and the knuckle joint formed by `the link F5 assumes the position as shown thus compensating for the greater angular movement et the levier F and thetension on the ilexible member H attached thereto partially rotates the drum or roller J in a reverse direction to release the catch D from the stoppost L uponivhich the gateinto its close-d position where the catch D engages the stop C on the latch post C and securelv locks it. rlhe counter-Weight on the crank Ftl then lirino's the ground lever F back into its normal position to meet an approaching vehicle.

lt n'ill he seen that the ground levers E and F antomaticallv set tiicmselves to meet an approaching vehicle in either directionthat is to sav. tor an approaching vehicle the levers are set as shoivn in Figure 5 in full black lines While for a leaving vehicle their'Y assume the position shoivn in chainwlotted lines (Figi'ire l-Vhen the invention is applied to a gate or door which opens in one direction only (such as the doors ot a garage)l both the ground levers E and F mais bedisposed on the same side ot the `gate or door. one being in advance ot the other. ln this case, the ground lever nearest'the gate is kelevated vwhen the gate is closed.r and When the said leveris depressed to open thegatathe second lill lever ie riiieeil :ind reniziiue in [hieI poeilion unlil the fraile in eloeeil. lllhen lihe gute or door ie opened Irv liriuil he neiireril lever in, lowilied inni lhe oilier lever le rziieed so Iliad, `when :i iehiele inoiee lliereoi'er, :iller plis ine ihroneh ille ,exilim ii will he deprifeeed :ind ennee ihe ,meid eine io he eloeed :ind lilla-heil. lflie leier lie-:neil neureiil llie role ie :irrin'iged le he depri d iowiiril the luid gue :ind ihe lever eiiniiieil iiirilheisi lroni ille grille ie ile-- preeeeil :ornilroin llie eine.

lli:` :illirniiii\el\, ground levers :es illusilriileil in l `iggjure il inni he iidiipled lor oper- :dinoI :i ejido or door whieli opens in one direeiion only. "lhese lever` ne illuelriiled in lliejure ll :ire :irriing'ed in poire' All', Il und Vlor eonrenienee :ire nii'iunl'ed on the one rock shiill ll. ihoujgh il' will he ohvionii l'hzil the levers4 or pliii'ev ll', lll' nniyY he upon indei pendenl Shell. rlfhe roel( Shell' ll` hns lwo ei'ainlie` llll, iii; iilioiil rigrlil :ingles to eneh other. l `lexihle eonneiflione` ure ull'uehed lo these erzinlie lil. lik find lo or :ironnd :i ro i'ziliihle rzidizil ineinher (sueh :is :i drinn or roller) on lhe hineine elile o'l lihe gele or door (or iidjzieen` rei-tieni ineinher) in opposite direi-lione. Siniiliir eonneeliione lo the lzileh heine' provided iis previously deeerihed. ln oprriilion ihe depreeeion olf one philo or lever ll will Swing` l'lie eine or door in one direi-lion to open the flanne. elevating The other plzil'e. or lever ll2 while lhe depression oli l'he olher pluie or lever l will swing the wie or door in the opposiie direction lo elose l-lie sinne elevatingr the lirsl' plete or lever l rio lhiil; il ie in posilion lo operzil'e.

lllhen ill ie desired lo operate zi fiile or door which ewinzes in one direcl'ion only, hy lei'ers on hoih Sides ol' lhe seid Inte or door. :i pair olf levers ll. IlJ (ne shown in Figure lill ure niouned upon eilen eide haiving eriinke lll. to wliieh llexihle Connections :ire iifliiehed. (lne olE liliese llexihle connecliione plissee ziround the 'liir Side olf lhe drinn or roller fl on lhe liingine' Stile ol ihe fiile (or ziiljlieenl Yerl'ieiil inenilier) while the olher plissee through :i `'uide on lhe hinge posi :ind then around lhe nezir Side of the Suid drinn or roller J". The sanne arrange` nient is diiplienled wil'h ihe piiir oli levers ll', Rf, on lihe other .eide of the, eine. Consequently. ilie depression of :i lever R on one Side oil? the enle lhroiieh il"u flexible Connec tion ewinge lhe fiile open. eleriiles the other lever RL and. :il the sinne linie. reverees the eleriilion ol ihe levers ll, R2` on the ollier side ol the elite. So lhet lhe piiseine on ol'f the vehicle will deprees llie lever which operziles lio eloee the eine.

.ln lfiggjuree S. E). l0. ll, und l?) is shown :i inodilieiilion ol' this' invention which is more eepeeizilly zidiipled lor use with Jdie fletes o'll reeiilenCea` where lhe approach 'from ai street or roiiclwiiy :ind eeroes a footpath does noi permit ol the ziceonnnodzition of the ground levere` lil :nid lC :is illnfslrlilied in Figure l. Thiy eonelrin-(ion ie :ulnpti-enl ilor the iminipulfiiiiiim olE :i gele whieh opens in one ilireiftion only und i'ierniiie ol the iimproecle ing; grinnid levers heine' poeilioned close to the gole, eo that the ezune may he, eel; oni)r :i few :feel: in ,liroin the nlroei: :iliginlnenlib 11n the inodilieiilzion referred lo nhove, the door or inte whieh opone :ind elooee Ain one iliieeliiniionly een he iiipiirulzeil l'roni the one side, hy :i puir o'l` depreifiihle levers or phil'ee ll :ind ll* l'ornieil on or filled Lo :i ellllk roel; ehnl'l ll haring' on one end there/oli zi` pilir olt :irnisY Il :ind lll disposed :it right angles, :ind :lroin the other side it ezln he operziled h r :i pziir oi roel; shzi'lle lvl :ind N inonnl'ed piirzillel lo :ind nl' :i lill le dieltiinee l'roni ezieh other.

The :iiine on the liret mentioned rock shalt ll :ire nornizill)v disposed :is shown in llgiiro l?, :ind :lroni lhe :irni lill :i flexible conneclion 'l plissee over guido pulleys T, 2 r ip H sind Y (Figure l2) around l'he onler Side ol the eroored drinn ,l lao the staple il thereon zilSo Yli-oni lhe infin ,lll :i llexihle connection S 1 :ieeee over `guide pulleys h", el and S :iround l'he inner side ol' the 1L'rooved drinn l lo the lugr l (Figure l2).

ln ll'igrure 1Q, the nite posit l? is shown as olE zihout lhe Finne eroine seelion is the diiimi eter ol the drinn or roller .l in which ense lhe llexihle connections S :ind 'l inny pass on either l ide, thereof :is shown. Vhere the posi', 'B is oli' grenier eross Section than the iliiinieler of lhe drinn or roller l the Said l'lexihle Connections S :ind T would pass round eiiilzihle guide pulleys lnoun'ed on the ineide of the sind poel Il adjacent lo the liine'ingn stile A.

The eiiid paiir ol roehv shiillie` M :ind N :ire provided with depreeeihle levers or plates M :ind N or roller erzinl` whieh nre :idlipled lo lie in the polli of :i vehicle pzieeing lhrougrh the geile liroin lhe slvreel'.

One end o'l the roch ehiil'lz M neoresl' i'ho elreei: is pri'ivideifl willi :i erzink :irin M2 zirrzingei'l in the Sznne pinne fie lhzii: in whieh the depressihle lever or philo M lhereon is Sitiinl'ed` This :irin M eupporlzs :i oelitriilly pivol'ed lever M lo the inner end of which is el'l'ziehed zi flexible lneinher (l which passes over :in idle pulley ll through u guide l :itliiehed lo the post B :ind :ironnd the outer side ol. lhe drinn J on the ente find is Seeured To the lug' J.

The oppoSiti-i end oli l'he Centrally pivoled lever M ie provided with :i llexihle eonneelion (il which passes over The idle pulley ll on l'he rook shall N lo the lower end o'l. .fi lever N (es shown in dolled linee) piroted lo en :irn'i N2 on the Second rook :shaft N loesiled nearer the gate.

The lower end of the pivoted lever N3 on the second rook shaft- N is also fitted with another flexible connection H which passes the iixed Aguide WT and is secured tothe lug" J after passing around the outer side of the drum J on the gate A.

'The lower end o'lj' the pivoted lever Nj on the second rock shatt N is provided with a counter weight NG which normally retains the said levei` in an inoperative position.

The arm h2 on the second rock shaft N is disposed at right angles or approximately at.

right angles to the .depressible lever,Y plate or roller crank N thereon.

The outer end ot the first mentioned yrock shaft M littedwith a looped member l\/ 4 having a travelling counter weight 5 supported tljiereon and adapted to retain the saine in operative and'in inoperative positions. f f n Vhen the gate closed the depressible levers` plates or 4cranks M and N on the rock shafts M and N on the outside of the gate are in the position shown in Figure l2 while the depressible levers R and R2 on the inside ot' the gate are in the positions shown in Figure 13.

Upon a vehicle approaching'the gate or door trom .the outside the lever M will be depressed but as the flexible connections Gr and O slack the gate will not be operated and the lever M will be restored to its original position by the weight M5 after the wheel has passed thereover. Then the wheel engages with and depresses the lever N a tension is imparted to the iiexible connection H which rotatesthe drum J which in turn releases the catch and opens the gate as hereinbei'ore described.v and as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Should the lever M be depressed by the last vehicle moving outward, the next rotation of the drum J exerts tension on the flexible connection G causing the said lever M to re-assume avertical engaging position. The opening` of the gate also exerts a tension on the flexible connect-ion T which lowers the lever R and raises theYV lever R2 (as shown in Figure 8) `which is depressed upon the wheel passing thereover, the tension of the flexible connection T then closing the gate, thus restoring the levers to normal position. Y

Asa vehicle approaches the gate or door 'trom the inside the lever R is depressed to exert a tension on the flexible connection S which partially rotates the drum J and opens the gate. The opening of the gate A releases the connection H thus allowing the weight N to kdepress lever N so that the front Wheel of the vehicle after moving through the gate passes over N and en@ gages M Vwhich in beingdepressedexerts a' tension on thetlexible connection Owhich raises N to engage the rear wheel et the vehicle as shown in Figure ll. The lever 1W when' depressed by the Yfront wheel is retained in position by the weight M sliding to the other end of the looped member M4. rlhe lever N upon being depressed by the rear wheel oi the vehicle closes and latches the gate by means or' the flexible connection P passing around the near side of the radial member J,thus restoring the apparatus to its normal position.

in a casewliere two vehicles following in an outward direction without an intervening vehicle jpassing in an inward direction the deiriregision ot the lever it on opening the gate A will exert teiisionvon the flexible con-v nection G, which will cause the travelling counter-weight M5 to move to the opposite end oi" the loop M and thus bring the lever iii into an approximately vertical position,

.so permitting the lever N to be depressed by c the counter-weight NG.

`When this invention is applied to an existing gate, an auxiliary member Ais utilized to carry the drum or roller J, the said nieinber A5 being clamped to the gate A by means ot split connections A6 as shown in Figure ist. Using' this construction, a roller B2 may be provided on the hinging stile A as a guide toi' the flexible connections.

he flexible members connecting the operating levers to the drum are provided with turn buckles or other approved length ad justing devices and adjustably mounted pnlleys can be provided to govern the direction oit the pull on the said tiexible members.

Though the invention is herein described as being actuated by ground levers operated by the wheels ot a passing vehicle, it will be understood that the same mechanical ar- "rangement may be adopted to use with hinged levers operated by hand.

I claim Y l. 1n mechanism 'for opening andclosing hinged gates, a -drum revolvably mounted on the lower part ot the hinging stile ot' the gate, a staple on the side of thedrum remotel from vthe hinging post, Va tension spring having one end connected to the staple and the opposite end to the gate at a distance troni the hinging stile. a latch on the latchy 'ing stile ot the gate, a connection between the latchinfg; stile and the staple, a pair oi' `rock shafts supporting depressible ground levers and arranged one on either sideot the `gate in an engageable position Jfor the wheels ot' a vehicle, cranks on the rock shafts, links pivoted to the cranks and having stops on one of their ends adapted to engagethe Vbodies ot' the cranks7 flexible connecting members passingfrom the links and around the rotatable drum in opposite directions and eeeured to the staple, so constructed and arranged that when the ground levers are depressed the drinn will be oscillated to impart an inereaeed tension to the epringl lirstly to rele-.Lee` the latch and then to swing the gale into an open or closed poeilion,

xk leelmnieni Vfor opel'iing and elosiiig ,frateem l'nivil'ig rock erhalte with depieeeible leveie thereiiin, eranlw on the Said rock dialin1 aune piroted to said cranks and .havintr a knuckle joint ronneelion therewith, a hineinnj .Aile on the gate. a radial inelnber on Said binding stile, a llexible connection attached to one end ol' each et the pivoted urine4 and leadingv to the radial nieinber, und Stops on the other ende4 el: the pivoted arms adapted to engage the loodieeoil' the cranks.

8. ln nieehaniem :tor opening' and closing galee, piroted ground levere positioned adjaeent the trate and in the path ot the Wheels ot' vehielee approaching and passing through the saine4` a radial ineinber Supported rotaw lively npon the hinein;4 Stile of the gate. a eprinfg connection between the radial ineinber and the gate traine, flexible ineinbersy oonneel'inn the gg'ronnd levers to the radial mein her, a slop on the radial Jneniher and stops reeel/i3 gates and the lilie, eoinpriealg;` a pair ol' reeli- .ehail'te enpiisorting deprL-reeihle ground levers and arranged one upon either eide olf the gale in an engapeahle poailfion lfor the wheels` ol' a vehicle paieing to and through the gale, kranke on the rook allaite, links piroted to the eranlis and ln'irinl stops on one ot their ende adapted to engage the bodies ol" the eranlre, a radial nreinher rota'rtivelV inonnted on the hinginl stile of the gaie, a :staple on the radial member, connecting ineinbere paseing :troni the opposite ends oit the linkev to and around the rotatable radial member and through the .staple and to the latch 0l. the gate!` and a spring oonneeting the said staple to the said gate, the tension oit the said springl eerving to maintain the said staple in alignment with the gate.

ln testimony nhereolI l allix niy signature.

ARTHUR DOUGLAS THOMAS. 

